Country Kids from Coombe Mill

Posted on June 13th, 2014

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The Royal Cornwall Show

This is the big event in the social Calendar for Cornwall, a county country show of epic proportions and in our local town of Wadebridge. The show is so popular that the schools close for the day, knowing that more than half the school would just ring in sick otherwise. Until this year I have avoided taking my children, for one it is expensive and secondly Nick and I would have a miserable time trying to keep tabs on all the children in a place so vast and busy. This year however I gave in to the pleas to go since even the triplets had class friends going. Nick and I went alone on the Thursday to enjoy some adult time and for me to keep an eye on him in case he felt the urge to buy another BBQ hut this year as after Tree Roots cottage we need to save some money. So on Friday while the schools were off I took Alistair and Felix with Clio and her school friends and another Mum. Nick then took Guy, Jed and Theo on the Saturday afternoon while I showed in the new holiday guests. This way all the children got to go and do the things that interested them in smaller more manageable groups while one of us covered Coombe Mill.

Once in the grounds we agreed a meet up point and let the older boys go it alone. This was the last I saw of them until it was time to leave but they had a great day and met lots of their school friends.

The girls in the main stuck together as they were all interested in the same things. Here is a taste of what we enjoyed:

World War one brought to life in the trenches with volunteers on hand to demonstrate old style masks and a taste of life in the trenches.

Round the show dogs the girls all decided they needed a new pet, or perhaps it was a budgie or even a new pigmy goat or donkey for Coombe Mill. I was impressed with the handy wash units outside the animal enclosures.

In the absence of real cows at Coombe Mill I do think we should invest in a model to milk, it was amazing how they were all drawn to this.

Moving through the maze of tents free samples became their aim. From bags to toy bugs with some tasty treats too.

Operation Hospital was a challenge and they delighted in filling in competitions to win raffle prizes in the NHS tent.

We sat to enjoy our lunch down by the main show ground to see an amazing motorbike display that had all the crowd gasping especially considering the 40mph gusts of wind. Ally and Felix were watching too although we never saw them. The younger boys and Nick missed the show the following day as the stunt man fell midair and was air lifted to hospital. Thankfully it was nothing too serious, but a very real reminder that these displays are dangerous and can go horribly wrong. The video at the end of this post captures the thrill of the action while we were there.

It is often a good idea to save the best to last, in this case the fun fair. We made our way down, distracted on the way by companies selling outdoor play equipment which Clio tested to the full. I rather fancied the play tractor for Coombe Mill in a giant sand pit but they are fearsomely expensive.

They raced past the real tractors deciding this was one to leave for the boys. However they fancied themselves as boating babes!

Down at the fun fair they spent their money enjoying the rides and winning prizes.

By all accounts the Boys enjoyed their day too with Dad, the fun fair, candyfloss and the army recruitment tent headed up by a friend being the highlights for them.

A happy two days that worked a treat with no one being lost, everyone doing the things they enjoyed most and already looking forward to next year.

Joining in with Country Kids

If you have been out enjoying the sunshine or the downpours of early summer with a story to tell please come and share here. All activities are welcome from garden play to crafts and learning and days out so long as it involves leaving the sofas and screens for some fresh air fun I welcome your post. Do please check out the other lovely posts here, there is always plenty of inspiration for children of all ages to be found.

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Coombe Mill

“Tales from the farmers wife” shares the funny and interesting happenings on our lovely holiday farm with Farmer Nick and our 6 children. A behind the scenes look on balancing family, farming, the holiday business and cooking for all.

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